Ticking The Boxes On A Pet-Friendly Holiday

When you have a pet like a dog or a cat, traveling is never quite as easy as it used to be and planning a pet-friendly holiday can be challenging. You have a very hard choice to make, between leaving your pet in a kennel or taking them with you, and it can be very hard to decide. In most cases, it’s best to take your pet with you or not go at all. A lot of people don’t like to leave their animals on their own, and it makes sense to avoid it when you can. So, to help you out with this, this post will be taking you through a full guide to getting your pet around the world.

The Location

To begin, you have to be considering the location you’ll be going to before anything else, as this will be the biggest thing to impact the experience your pet has on your vacation. Below, you can find a couple of the areas you should be considering. Along with this, though, it will always help to do plenty of your own research before you decide to hop on a plane.

Climate

For an animal like a dog, staying cool when the weather is very hot will be a big challenge. Likewise, spending days in the cold could have an impact on their health which isn’t seen into the future. When choosing your location, you should make sure that the climate will be right for your pet, and that they will be able to enjoy it as much as you will. There are loads of pet websites out there which can help you to find tools to combat the impact of the weather on your pet.

Safety

Along with climate, a lot of pet owners will also want to think about safety, as the standards of animal welfare differ greatly around the world. Taking your dog somewhere known for strays, for example, could be a very bad idea. This sort of information is best found on websites like forums and blogs. But, you could also do some research on review sites, too.

The Transport

Next, it’s time to consider the way that you’re going to get your pet to your vacation destination. Not a lot of people think that this sort of job will be a challenge. But, along with the documents you have to get for your pet, you will also have to think very hard about the way that you move them. Some methods are a lot better than others, and you can find the common examples below.

By Air

Unfortunately, most animals won’t enjoy a journey by plane. In most cases, they will be stored in the luggage containment on the plane. These places are often cold, noisy, and scary for your animal to experience. Unless you have to do it, it’s worth avoiding this method, as it will also be the trickiest to pull off; most pets will have to get vaccinations when they go somewhere new by air.

By Sea

Thankfully, even if you can’t fly, you still have a couple of ways to get around the world. The fastest of these is by sea, as this sort of method will cut out a huge amount of your journey. On this sort of vessel, you will be able to keep your dog on a lead while walking on the deck and around the boat. Along with this, the sensations they feel will be much more natural to them, making it less frightening in the process.

By Car

As the last mode of transport you have, you could consider simply driving to wherever you’d like to go. This is perfect if you’re traveling within your own country or plan to go somewhere connected to you by land. Of course, though, even if you live on an island, you will be able to get a car ferry which can take you and your vehicle to the mainland. This method will take a lot more planning than the other two, but will also be the most kind on your pet.

The Accommodation

With your location and transport covered, it’s time to think about the accommodation you’re going to be using. Most hotels and other venues aren’t designed for pets like dogs or cats, and it will be hard for you to make a good vacation in one. Of course, though, you still have some options to make it a little bit easier for yourself.

A Hotel

If you want to have a normal hotel experience, you still have plenty of options to help you out, and it’s just a matter of doing some searching to find the right one. Thanks to pet-lovers around the globe, there are loads of blogs and forums out there dedicated to helping people travel with their furry friends. Finding a hotel or resort which is pet-friendly shouldn’t be too hard, especially as this sort of trip is becoming more popular.

An Apartment

If you can find the right landlord, having a place to yourself is often a much better way to keep your pet happy on your vacation. Getting a penthouse or apartment for your trip is just as easy as staying in a hotel. With a few quick searches, you should be able to find loads of options with varying stays and pricing. Of course, though, you might want to read some reviews before you settle on anything.

Camping

A lot of pets will enjoy their time outside much more than they like to be inside. Thankfully, most campsites are friendly to dogs, too, making it nice and easy to create a trip they will enjoy. Even when using an RV, this sort of vacation will give you the chance to spend more time with your pet than ever. The only this to be concerned about is safety. Make sure you can secure your pet at night, and that there aren’t any nasty creatures around to hurt them.

The Itinerary

Finally, as the last area for you to consider, the itinerary you choose for your vacation will impact your pet a lot. Your pet won’t be able to enjoy a lot of the things you will. Lacking The ability to read or communicate, a lot of venues and experiences will be out of bounds for your pet. Below, you can find some examples of the areas to think about.

Your Activities

It shouldn’t be too hard to find activities which both you and your pet will be able to enjoy. If you’re somewhere warm, for example, visiting the beach and letting your pet have a swim could be great fun for them. But, if you want to a museum instead, your pet wouldn’t have anything to do at all. There’s no point in taking them with you if they won’t have fun. So, it’s important to make sure that you’re thinking about this as much as you can.

Normal Routine

As you’ve probably experienced, most animals are creatures of habit. Your pet will be no different and will want to have their normal routine, even when they’re halfway around the world. Feeding times should remain consistent, along with the play and attention you give them. Of course, while you’re away, you have the perfect excuse to treat them just a little bit more.

Hopefully, this post will inspire you to start working towards taking your pet with you on your next adventure. In reality, most kennels are perfectly fine for your animal. But, of course, it can be worth looking for ways to share your experiences with them instead of simply locking them away.

Once again another good subject you've come up with here and I know the amount of effort needed for interesting new ideas. I have a dog reltaed blog and feel we could be a suitable fit to write each other a guest post. Why not have a look at one of my latest pet travel articles here- dog crates for traveling with and contact me if you're up for it! Thank you

About Us 'GOBeyondBounds' - Traveler Spotlight: Chalukya and Rashmi from GOBeyondBounds

Pet travel tips: when you should leave your dog at home | Travel Moments In Time - Pet Travel: How to Make Road Trips Fun for both You and Your Dog

[…] When planning your trip and making your itinerary, ask yourself this: will you be able to take really good care of your dog? Will you be able to make sure nothing bad happens to them? Will you be able to spend time with them? Yes, this is related to the previous item, because your dog isn’t an accessory. And try to make road trips fun for both you and your dog. […]